Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: NFL Week 8 lineup advice, best matchups, DFS picks

Fantasy football owners face more tough start 'em, sit 'em decisions in Week 8, and things don't get easier with injuries piling up and two offenses filled with top-flight fantasy performers — the Chargers and Chiefs — off for the third bye week of the season. Fortunately, Sporting News NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is here to help with his Week 8 fantasy lineup advice and DFS tips.

Two of fantasy's best quarterbacks, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, will be out of action this week. Your lineups also will be missing Austin Ekeler and Travis Kelce, among others, and that's in addition to all the big new injury concerns (Ja'Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Deebo Samuel, D'Andre Swift, Michael Thomas, Darren Waller, Allen Lazard, etc.) and personnel changes (Jets RBs, Panthers RBs, Ravens RBs, etc.). Simply put, it's another tough week.

Navigating through a smaller-than-usual collection of potential starting options, here are our must-starts and start 'em sit 'em recommendations for Week 8. If you have specific lineup questions, check out RotoBaller's industry-leading "Who To Start?" tool below and compare up to four players across all positions.

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WEEK 8 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts

Stronger starts

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (at DET). There's no way the Lions' pass defense can contain their speedy wide receivers, and Miami should be more aggressive through the air in this matchup.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. ARI). Cousins will light things up after the bye in what should be a sneaky high-scoring affair opposite Kyler Murray. Cousins destroyed the same defense last season.

Daniel Jones, Giants (at SEA). They should run well with him and Saquon Barkley and open things up for a few big plays in the passing game.

Derek Carr, Raiders (at NO). The Saints' defense isn't what it used to be, and this simply won't be another Josh Jacobs rushing boom game.

Matthew Stafford, Rams (vs. SF). He should right the ship with more help after the bye, and the 49ers' secondary has enough issues for him to exploit with Van Jefferson (knee) back.

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (at LAR). This will be a higher-scoring affair than the first meeting, as he'll need to throw often again to his considerable weapons.

Davis Mills, Texans (vs. TEN). Mills showed well on the road for a change despite the pick-six in Vegas, and he can put up garbage numbers here.

DFS Targets

FanDuel cash game pick

Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. ARI, $7,800). He's well-priced between Murray and Tagovailoa and should deliver big returns with 300 yards and three TDs.

DraftKings tournament pick

Taylor Heinicke, Commanders (at IND, $5,200). He should be throwing a ton indoors, as the Colts should put up some points here at home.

Streamer Special

Sam Ehlinger, Colts (vs. WAS). Ehlinger is a mini cheat code with his running skills and will put the ball in the hands of his talented wide receivers against a terrible cornerback group. He'll have enough big plays and TDs to be startable in deeper and superflex leagues.

WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGSQBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. CHI). The Bears' pass rush is performing well, and their young defensive backs are playing better. Expect another run-heavy, defensive-minded game plan for Dallas.

Geno Smith, Seahawks (vs. NYG). It's hard to expect him to light it up against a good Giants pass defense when Kenneth Walker can run all over them and there's likely no DK Metcalf (knee).

Tom Brady, Buccaneers (vs. BAL). He might put it together on a short week, but after the Steelers and Panthers whiffs, it's hard to trust him at home against a solid defense.

Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at BUF). He managed a couple of scores to Aaron Jones last week with low volume, but with more wideout concerns, he's impossible to play in this brutal prime-time road matchup.

Jared Goff, Lions (vs. MIA). This might seem like a volume-based play for garbage production, but the blitzing ways of the Dolphins will get to him.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. DEN in London). He hasn't been playing all that well, and the team is locked in more with the running game.

Justin Fields, Bears (at DAL). He rocked the Patriots with his running, but it's a short week and the Cowboys' defense is much tougher.

Marcus Mariota, Falcons (vs. CAR). He should fare better in a run-heavy game script, but you still can't go here because of the low volume.

Kenny Pickett, Steelers (at PHI). He'll be viable in the second half of the season once he gets past this tough spot on the road.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGSQBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Stronger starts

Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. CHI). He will have the Cowboys' backfield to himself to put up Stevenson-like explosive numbers with Ezekiel Elliott (knee) out.

Miles Sanders, Eagles (vs. PIT). The Steelers keep getting gashed against the run, and he'll play off Jalen Hurts for a fine day.

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders (at DAL). He's getting too much work relative to Antonio Gibson to keep out of lineups.

Eno Benjamin, Cardinals (at MIN). He'll handle the bulk of Arizona's RB touches again against a middling Vikings' run defense.

Gus Edwards, Ravens (at TB). Get on the Bus even in a tough spot given his powerful volume in a run-heavy offense.

D'Onta Foreman, Panthers (at ATL). Foreman will have the backfield to himself with Chuba Hubbard (ankle) out, and the Falcons can be beat up on the ground.

DFS targets

FanDuel cash game picks

Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. WAS, $8,300). He is a solid semi-contrarian play, as the presence of Sam Ehlinger will actually make him more effective with a positive game script.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (at DET, $6,800). He's the Aaron Jones of this week with the excellent price in a smash spot.

DraftKings tournament picks

Raheem Mostert (at DET $5,900). He's too cheap not to roll with here in either style of game.

Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. CHI, $6,100). He's kind of like Rhamondre Stevenson and can deliver here closing out a big lead.

WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

Najee Harris, Steelers (at PHI). He's been so ineffective, and the stacked front in Philly won't help him bust out of a season-long slump.

Devin Singletary, Bills (vs. GB). This game shouldn't be close, and that's not good news for his effective usage.

James Robinson and Michael Carter, Jets (vs. NE). The Patriots should focus on stopping the run much better after the Bears' debacle.

Damien Harris, Patriots (at NYJ). Rhamondre Stevenson dominated touches with great success, and that won't change much here.

AJ Dillon, Packers (at BUF). This offense can no longer support two backs.

Kareem Hunt, Browns (vs. CIN). This offense can no longer support two backs.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (vs. CAR). It's hard to trust the rookie and chase last week.

Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams (vs. SF). You can't assume he will get key touches after the bye.

Jamaal Williams, Lions (vs. MIA). Good night, sweet former Packer.

Latavius Murray, Broncos (at JAX). The matchup isn't bad, but the game flow actually could hurt him badly if he doesn't score a TD. This applies to Melvin Gordon, too.

WEEK 8 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

D.J Moore, Panthers (at ATL). This secondary is beat up and gives up a ton to wideouts. Moore will keep feeling it with P.J. Walker.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. PIT). They can't cover him along with A.J. Brown.

Allen Lazard, Packers (at BUF). Check the shoulder injury, but this is a volume-based garbage play given that Aaron Rodgers doesn't have much else at wideout.

Curtis Samuel, Commanders (vs. IND). Samuel is involved well playing off Terry McLaurin, and he'll come through with big targets given Washington's other wideout injuries.

Alec Pierce, Colts (vs. WAS). Don't be down on Sam Ehlinger because young players tend to click with young players and this matchup is so sweet at home.

Brandin Cooks, Texans (vs. TEN). They have injuries elsewhere at wideout, and Davis Mills should go back to peppering him most in garbage time.

Rashod Bateman, Ravens (vs. TB). They need him to play regular snaps, and he'll come through this week.

Adam Thielen, Vikings (vs. MIN). The Cardinals can give it up to the slot, so count on a short score with about six catches and 60 yards.

Jakobi Meyers, Patriots (at NYJ). Meyers is getting it done with targets regardless of the QB.

Jerry Jeudy, Broncos (vs. JAX). Jeudy has punch with either QB, and the Jaguars' corners aren't too daunting.

Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. CLE). His floor is too comfortable and his ceiling is too high not to roll with him again out of the slot.

Elijah Moore, Jets (vs. NE). This is a sneaky squeaky-wheel play given they need him badly in the short passing game to replace the explosive plays of Breece Hall.

Allen Robinson, Rams (vs. SF). Here's another sneaky play, as he flashed well before the bye and should be good for another 60 yards and a TD.

FanDuel cash game picks

Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. MIN, $9,000). Minnesota will work him open well after the bye, and the Cards don't have the speed to stop him. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are also smart pay-ups.

D.J. Moore, Panthers (at ATL, $6,200). This is too cheap for a hot WR1 in a terrific matchup. Lock him in.

Chris Olave, Saints (vs. LV, $6,900). The Raiders' secondary stinks without Nate Hobbs inside, and Olave should dominate targets from either QB.

DraftKings tournament picks

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. NYG, $6,500). They are vulnerable in the slot (see Christian Kirk), and he should get much higher volume with DK Metcalf (knee) likely out.

D.J. Moore (at ATL $5,300). He has a great history vs. the Falcons, so the big plays will most definitely come.

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. WAS, $7,200). He will be faded by many because of Sam Ehlinger, but young QBs tend to lean on top targets more in their first starts. The matchup is also off-the-charts amazing.

Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, Steelers (at PHI). Don't go here against Darius Slay and James Bradberry outside or Avonte Maddox inside.

Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. CIN). He'll be contained by fellow former Cowboy Chidobe Awuzie.

Drake London, Falcons (vs. CAR). Atlanta's low passing volume means London is not worth trying against this secondary should Jaycee Horn (ribs) play.

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (vs. CHI). You cannot play him outside against this improving young secondary after a zero.

Romeo Doubs, Packers (at BUF). You cannot play him outside against an established secondary after a zero.

Robert Woods, Titans (at HOU). Don't force this questionable idea.

Darnell Mooney, Bears (at DAL). It's not happening. The Cowboys protect too well against the deep ball.

Rondale Moore, Cardinals (at MIN). It's hard to know what he'll get trickling down from 'Nuk.

Hunter Renfrow, Raiders (at NO). The Saints can be burned in the slot, and they need to get him going in a high-scoring affair. However, his volume of late makes him very shaky.

Garrett Wilson, Jets (at NE). He'll struggle in this spot, as Zach Wilson can't get it downfield to him.

Stronger starts

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at PHI). Freiermuth is getting more from Pickett of late, and this might be the only thing that works in garbage time.

Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (at DET). The Lions are too giving to the position to think he won't be involved playing off the wideouts.

Irv Smith Jr., Vikings (vs. ARI). He'll dent the end zone and get three or four receptions.

Hunter Henry, Patriots (at NYJ). The Jets can be beaten by tight ends, and Henry needs to be involved more.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers (vs. BAL). Watch for the rookie role to expand out of necessity for Tom Brady.

Will Dissly, Seahawks (vs. NYG). He's a sneaky scoring-based play playing off the run.

FanDuel cash game and DraftKings tournament pick

Zach Ertz, Cardinals (at MIN, $6,000 and $5,100). DeAndre Hopkins being established again should open things up for Ertz in a great matchup by the numbers, and he's the safest option with no Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews available for the main slate.

Tyler Higbee, Rams (vs. SF). Higbee is about to see a drop in targets with the wideouts being better for Matthew Stafford.

Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. CAR). You can't go here at all anymore until you see something of note.

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (vs. CHI). The Bears do a number on this position, and the Cowboys won't need him much.

Hayden Hurst, Bengals (at CLE). The Browns are decent here, and Tyler Boyd is the inside option of choice.

Robert Tonyan, Packers (at BUF). The Bills erase this position.

Dawson Knox, Bills (vs. GB). The Packers also erase this position.

Greg Dulcich, Broncos (at JAX in London). The Jaguars have too much at safety and linebacker to trust the rookie.

Dolphins (at DET). They should rack up sacks and takeaways off the blitz.

Titans (at HOU). They should get some key numbers vs. Davis Mills.

Jaguars (vs. DEN in London). They can make Russ or Brett burn.

Buccaneers (vs. BAL). They can play better vs. Lamar.

Ravens (at TB). They will rattle the GOAT.

Bengals (at CLE). They will deliver vs. Jacoby Brissett on the road.

FanDuel cash game pick

Dolphins (at DET, $4,000). They're a relatively cheap play with a high ceiling.

DraftKings tournament pick

Panthers (at ATL, $2,800). This is a sneaky good value vs. a fading Marcus Mariota.

49ers (at LAR). This will be a sneaky high-scoring game.

Rams (vs. SF). See above.

Colts (vs. WAS). Not with their injuries.

Saints (vs. LV). Not with their current state.

Cardinals (at MIN). Don't chase the Saints game.

Giants (at SEA). Not against the Kenneth Walker express on the road.

Get more of Vinnie Iyer's in-depth fantasy football advice for Week 8 by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.